Luke the physician wrote after Philip led the Ethiopian man through the scriptures written by the prophet Isaiah, “Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what does hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing”, and in chapter eight and verse forty of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “Philip was found at Azotus” where we read:
But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities,
till he came to Caesarea.
The verse begins, “But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, ...” Luke began with the words, “but Philip was found” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover Philip whose name means lover of horses and was one of Jesus' apostles was discovered and present” “at Azotus” which means “Ashdod or a stronghold and was one of the five chief cities of the Philistines, lying between Ashkelon and Jamnia and near the Mediterranean”: “and passing through he preached” which means “and traveling and journeying through this area Philip announce and proclaimed the joyful tiding of God's kindness of the Messianic blessings” “in all the cities” or “within each, every, the whole and everyone of the dwelling places, habitations and abodes”. Luke shared how “Philip” was discover in the Philistine city known as “Azotus or Ashdod” after he was “snatched away” by God's Holy Spirit, and he “proclaimed” the “gospel” of Jesus Christ in each of the cities that surrounded that area.
The verse goes on to say, “... till he came to Caesarea.” Luke continued with the words, “till he came” which means “until Philip arose and appeared” “to Caesarea” or “at Caesarea which means severed and was Caesarea of Philippi which was situated at the foot of Lebanon near the sources of the Jordan in Gaulanitis, and formerly called Paneas; but afterward being rebuilt by Philip the tetrarch. It was called by him Caesarea, in honor of Tiberias Caesar; subsequently called Neronias by Agrippa II, in honor of Nero”. Luke shared how “Philip” continued sharing the “gospel” of Jesus Christ until he arrived in the city of “Caesarea” .
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “good news” of Jesus Christ continued to spread through the teaching and preaching of Jesus' apostle “Philip”. Jesus said His disciples would “be witnesses unto” Him “in Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the world”, (See Acts 1:8), and “Philip” was fulfilling those words. God loves people, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with everyone in the world who submits themselves to His Son Jesus. Jesus died for the sins of the world, and when people surrender their lives to Him, God not only will forgive their sins, but He will grant them everlasting life. Let all who read these words understand the significance of the “gospel” spreading through “Philip”, and may they know God was at work through His Son Jesus so all people may live eternally with Him.
Next time we begin a new chapter and see Luke share about, “Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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